Continental envy

Brexit could leave the UK staring longingly at Europe

“Shackled to a corpse” has become a favoured cliché among Brexiteers rationalising their aversion to formal links with the European Union. A variant of this grisly image among milder Europhobes has Britain delivering the mortal blow that will put Europe out of its misery. One way or the other, a diagnosis of EU terminal illness is now widely accepted by Britain’s dinner party consensus.

But what is the clinical evidence? Europe’s morbidity supposedly shows four main symptoms: populist politics; economic failure; geopolitical chaos on its borders; and inability to cope with immigrants and terrorists. But are these maladies connected to the EU?

About Prospect Magazine

In Prospect’s June issue: Bronwen Maddox lays out the case for Britain to stay in Europe—the position taken by the magazine. Mikhail Gorbachev explains his hopes for Russia, suggesting that the claim democracy is bad for Russia is “balderdash.” Rachel Sylvester looks at the Conservative Party and explores what might happen to the Tories after the EU referendum.
Also in this issue: Nicholas Shaxson and Alex Cobham unpick the world of hidden money and what Britain can do about tax havens. Neil Kinnock argues that Labour isn’t making progress under Jeremy Corbyn and Jason Burke examines Islamic State and the networks that underpin their attacks. Plus Stephen Bayley asks was BritArt any good?